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JFH Music Review


Abel
The Honest Love



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 5 tracks: 23 minutes, 36 seconds
Street Date: September 1, 2009


In my opinion, you can never have too much indie music. So I have been excited to see Facedown Record's progress moving into the genre. Their latest endeavor is New York band Abel, who's new EP The Honest Love was released on Facedown's Dreamt Music imprint.

The Honest Love is an appropriately titled album. The guys in Abel sing a lot about love, and with a lot of honesty. The EP starts off with "Dressed Like a King," a somewhat meandering track with some soul influence. The vocals are slightly lower and harsher than typical indie fare. If you listen closely, you might even be reminded of Needtobreathe. Each track has a nice layer of shimmery guitars in the background, interspersed with some keys. Unfortunately, some of the tracks seem somewhat aimless. The songwriting is not as tight as it could be and it's hard to get a feeling for where the music is going. Fortunately, there are also songs like the title track, which is equal parts mellow and powerful. "The Honest Love" is the clear highlight of the album.

In another break from indie trends, Abel's lyrical approach is overtly Christian, and even worshipful sometimes. "The Honest Love" speaks of the cross and the true love of God. "The World Sings," while being just a bit too random musically, is heavy and hard lyrically. At one point, the band admits "We are cowards, afraid to speak the name of God. And we have murdered, with dirty hands as simple men unworthy of our crowns." Later, we hear the lyrics, "Though I am trying, I'm not like Christ at all. I'm not like Christ at all." Again, honesty is clearly important to the guys in Abel.

The Honest Love is a nice little taste of this new band, and I'm interested to hear more. In general, the music is pleasant and the lyrics are strong. This is an EP worth checking out.

- Review date: 9/30/09, written by Timothy Estabrooks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: Dreamt Music
. Album length: 5 tracks: 23 minutes, 36 seconds
. Street Date: September 1, 2009
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Dressed Like A King (3:49)
  2. Song Of Simon (4:43)
  3. The Honest Love (4:10)
  4. My Melody (4:48)
  5. The World Sings (6:06)

 

 

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This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS
BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow]
Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG]
Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent)
Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel]
Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent)
Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records]
Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity]
Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music]
Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]

SINGLES
Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite]
Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG]
ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM]
Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Salvation - Single [Syntax]
Drenae To the Cross - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade]
Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident]
The Forerunner Manifesto (independent)
for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records]
Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House]
Vic Lucas Make a Way - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY - Single [Syntax]
Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent)
Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Razzie SHORTCUTS - Single [Syntax]
Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler]
Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]

VINYL
Bleach Live/The Lost Show Vinyl (independent)

Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]


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